Separator.



G. H. FRASER.

SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. Z9. 19H). RENEWED MAR. 30,1915. Ll Patented Dec.28, 1915.

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0%' K I l f j y INVENTOR WITNESSES; .j wyf M MW c. H. FRASER.

RENEWED MAR-30.1935.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES:

(s. H. FRASER.

SEPARATOR.

Y APPLICATION FILED DEC-29, 19H). RENEWE MAR30.1915. :19%859865,Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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l" f5' iz GEORGE BOLT' Erz-ASEE, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y.

SEPARATOR.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2S, ilgll.

applicativa med December 29, 1910, serial No. 599,913. Reneweaiuarch 3o,1915. serial no. 18,128.

certain new and useful Improvements in- Separators,I of which thefollowing is a specification. y

This invention relates to devices for separating, sizing, bolting,classifying, treating or collecting, materials by utilizing a fluidcurrent, and aims to provide certain iinprovements therein.

Heretofore it has been`common to distribtute material Within a feedchamber in which air currents act to draw the fine material into anouter casing, the fines settling-in the outer casing and the airreturning tothe feed chamber, the coarse material falling through theair currents in the feed chamber and discharging from'the bottom of thelatter.

My invention provides improvements especially applicable to devices ofthis general character, and in its preferred form 1t utllizes anon-rotary feed tube and an initial distributer, in conjunction with aplurality of superposed annular distributers successively receiving thematerial, an annular exhaust chamber for each distributer',a blower foreach distributer, an annular discharge passage for the combined exhaustof the several blowers, an auxiliary blower for speeding the currentthrough said passage, a cen-- trfugal separator for the dust ladencurrent, and a plurality of--settling chambers successively receivingthe return current and classifying the material in suspension there-'in, a reverse return passage for! each settling chamber, means forseparatelywithdrawing the 'different'products means for adjusting thecurrents for the `respective distributors, and means for controlling themain current.

My invention also includes means for differentially driving thedistributers and blowers, means for adjusting the non-rotary feed spout,improved bearings and bearing dispositions, ments, and various featuresof improvement in construction, arrangement and details, all of whichwill be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which show certain adaptations of myinvention, Figure l is a vertical axial section showing the preferredform of my invention; Fig. 2

improved damper arrange-l is a similar section showing a. simpler Iformithereof, Fig. 3 is a similar section showing another form thereof, andFig. lis a, similar section showing another form.

A lteferring to the drawings, A indicates a casing, B the drivingmechanism, C the feed hopper, D the distributer, E a chamber, F ablower,.G `the dust chamber, H the return passage, I the. coarse outlet,and j the ne outlet. These may be of any usual or suitable constructionand arrangement capable of distributing the feed, creating the necessarycurrent, and collecting and dischargilig the products. Y

Referring to Fig. 1, will now describe in detail the preferred form ofmy invention in the adaptation therein illustrated.

The casing A has a cylindrical body a and taperlng or conical top andbottom, made in sections, preferably halves, braced and flanged, andadapted to be bolted to the ad- ]olnlng circumferential sections, audithas as many vertical sections as are desired to glve the requisiteheight, two being shown. These sections are shown as straight andconnected by bars Z2 which tend to preserve the cylindrical form of thebody and support the internal parts in position.

The upper part of the casing consists of a head c which is tapered inthe form of a truncated cone and has an annular top d, and. a centralcavity or depressed portion e. The lower part of thecasing consists of aconical bottom f, suspended from the top body a. The body a is suspendedfrom the topd, and the latter is suspended from the bearing'frame g.

The driving mechanism shown consists of a driving shaft h carrying fastand loose pulleys z', and geared to the driven parts by bevel gears.This shaft is mounted in bearings in the frame g, which frame is shownas lcrossing the machine and. supported by timbers at each side thereof`and the entire device as shown is suspended from lthe frame, which hasone face coinciding with the diametric parting ofthe body.

The hopper C is preferably a stationary hopper, adapted to turn in anydirection to connect with any source of feed, and preferably having ascalper anda tailing chute,

ldistributers and the blower rings.

speed of feed being determined by vertical adjustment of the pipe, or ofthe distributer, or of both, as desired.

The distributer is preferably a rotary member, and preferably comprisesthe disk K andv one or more successive distributers, as the rings L andM, which are carried by and revolve with the disk K in thek constructionshown. Opposite the disk K there is located a baie ring c receiving thedischarge hausting from the passage Q, and r exhausting from the passageR. These blades are preferably tilting vertical blades, adapted to bedriven in either direction, and are proportioned in number and sizeaccording to the current desired at the respective passages. The blowerblades of each series are separated from those of the next series by Lrings e, which constitute essentially the top and bottom wall of eachexhaust passage, so that each passage is practically isolated from theother passages by the walls of the Collectrs n and o converge thematerial on rings L and M.

The blowers all preferably discharge into the exhaust chamber T, whichtapers down wardly and outwardly and directs their combined dischargeinto the annular return passage U, through which it passes to the dustchamber (Jri Swinging blades t are hung on the blower F and capable ofinclining in either direc tionA to give a downward acceleration to thecurrent and aid in driving it through the passage U, and whirling bladesu preferably' are provided on the blower F for whirling the currentwhile in the annular passage U, thus generating suiicient centrifugalaction to aid in separating the dust by centrifugal force, so that bythe time the current escapes from 'the passage the heavier dust may beclose to the outer wall, from which it will slide into the chamber G,and the inner air will be correspondingly cleaned.

' As the air discharges from the passage U y into the'settling chamber Gthe returning air is drawn from'y-it by an annular intake V, of greatersuperficial area than that of the passage U and immediately adjacentthereto, so that the downward motion of the .dust in the discharge fromthe passage U may have opportunity to throw out much dust centrifugallywithin the chamber G as the air current reverses to reach the return V.The air inthe chamber (i cleans itself by the process of settling, andby momentum and precipitation, before escaping through the return V, thearea lof which relative tothe passage U is suiciently great to sodiminish the speed of iow of the return current for the air to freeitself of ioating particles.

A.V bae ring 'v is preferably disposed abovethe chamber G to interceptthe air as it whirls inwardly and to directit `toward the adjacent coneand meet upward currents there, anda regulating ringor damper W ispreferably vertically adjustable within the passage YrV to control theair of the return .and thus regulate its current speed. An annularsuspended wall wf constitutes the partition between the passages U and Vand serves as the outer wall of the return passage H. The cone-Xconstitutes the inner wall of this passage as well as the inner wall ofthe succeeding settling chamber O', andhas an outlet a'. p n

The air current flowing through the inlet of the return passage V,swings inwardly past the damper W and upwardly over the top edge of thecone X, and thenl iows eventually through the passage H to the center ofthe chamber O, from whence it. lmay continue to the distributers,between which it may again be drawn through the suction passages by theblowers. In reaching these passages it must trave-rse the descendingshower of material falling from each distributer to the next, composedof coarse and fine material, from which, as the current passes through,particles fine enough to be floated by it will be carried outward andupward through the blowers, while coarser material will continue overthe distributers to the return cone O and be dropped from the latterinto the bottom of the tailings cone- S.

Adjustment or regulation of the current as to the different distributersmay be obtained by dii'erentiatingthe blowers,'or otherwise, but ispreferably effected from within the chamber-. E, as by the damper Ycontrolling i the passage y beneath the disk K, the damper Z controllingthe passage s beneath the distributer L, and the damper A controlling ythe inlet a beneath the distributer M.

Inclined annular walls b are preferably attached beneath eachdistributer, and preferably carry blades o which act as blowers to aidin accelerating the current beneath .the distributers.

The dampers Y, Z and Af are independently adjustable from below in anysuitable manner, as by the rod d and pipes e and f respectively.`

p When independent speeds of the distributers andthe blowers are desiredthe distributers are carried by and driven from a tubular head B', whichis-suiabiy spaced' VE,whic'h is preferably driven by a cone pulley F andbelt G from a reverse cone pulley H on the shaft lz.. l By shifting thebelt the relative speeds of the pulleys F and H can be regulated.

ln such an adaptation the blowers `are car rie'd by a head I, which hasa tubular stem g', surrounding the tubular part ofthe head B', andcarrying a gear J from which it is driven by a Agear VK on the shaft k;The

head I is adjustably supported vby a collar' L from a bearing M at thetop, and is steadied by a Vbearing N at the bottom, the latter bearingbeing disposed within a concavity Vin the head of the casing so as tobring the' support as far `as possible within the blower and thus aid inresisting any .gyratory'tendency of the latter.

e All bearings consist 'ofan annular cup i receiving an annular flange jso that the bearings run, in oil. Each bearing is clamped in a halfsocket in the frame g so that by removing the clamps the parts can bebodily r.removed sidewise, the parting faces of these clampscorresponding with the diametric parting of the casing, so thatbyremoving a detachable half the interior is accessibl 'The gears,bearings and` collars, are inclosed for dust protection, and the upperbearing D is formed on a frame m removably carried on the frame g 4sothat, when diderential speeds between the distributer and the blower arenot desired,.this frame may be removed and the bracket n', detachablycarrying the feed tubeand supporting the hopper, may be lowered onto thebearing M of the frame. In such case the distributers andthe blowers mayboth be carried by the same head. y.

Forrclassifying or grading the fines my invention preferably providesone or more classifying chambers, between the dust chamber G and thereturnchamber H. One auxiliary settling chamber 0 is shown, which ispreferably concentric vof and partly f inclosedin the chamber Gr, andsurrounds andk partly envelops the chamber E. lThe discharge from thechamber `(i slowly fiows therefrom toward the inlet o to `the firstclassifying chamber, and is discharged downwardly inthe latter throughthis contracted annular inlet, so that dust in the current maybeprecipitatedbyits velocity and by centrifugal action, as wella's byAgravity, as the discharge expands within the large part of the chamber 0the speed `diminishes. The exhaust from ythe, chamber O is slowlywithdrawn through a large outlet P leading past a damper p to the cone Sandchamber E, or to the succeeding classifying chamber if several areused,

where the operation is repeated as often as desired. From the lastclassifying chamber the discharge is takenv through the exhaust passageV and the return passage H and into the chamber E as, before explained.Any

desired number of these 4classifying chambers may be interposed betweenthe discharge and the suction chambers and the iineness of productlto becollected in each may be determined by properly proportioning thechambers, or the current speeds,or the superficial area of the inlet andoutlet. A separate outlet spout may be provided for each chamber, or4the various separations may be combined in one outlet, in which case vthe auxiliary chambers will simply beused as supplemental purifiers ofthe current returning to the Separating chamber.

The return passage H 'constitutes a sinuous conduit between the finechamber G and the distributing chamber E, and when one or moreintermediateclassifying chambers are interposed 'these are essentially apart of the return passage, 'and constitute enlargements ormodifications thereof suited to effect the desired current modificationbest suited to the particular functions of each intei-mediate chamber.Making these intermediate chambers concentric and annular, and nestingthem together between the tailings cone and the conical bottom of theseparator attains great compactness, while permitting uniform annularcurrent passages which facilitate uniformity of speed of flow at allsides of any part of any passage or chamber. This uniformity throughoutthe effective part of any compartment or passage is a feature of myinvention which is accomplished by extending cylindrically thetermination of any conical member until the cylindrical extension'haspassed the termination of a conical portion of the next succeedingmember, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This is done where heightlimits permit sizings as well as current sizingsl within the onemachine, and this is preferably accomplished by one or more screensbeneath the distributing chamber E, receiving the discharge from thereturn cone O, and grading and sizing itso as to separate out desiredvsizes before the remaining tailings or. fines passing these screens arepermitted to fall onto the tailings cone S. Twoszing screens, a coarseinner one Q', and a medium outer one R each conical and nested together,are shown as yieldingly suspended by springs S from the return cone O,so as to receive the tailings therefrom. The coarsest material ows downthe screen Q and falls through its outlet to the coarsest outlet g.Material passing through this screen ows down the Ascreen R and escapesthrough the medium outlet 7", and material passing'through the screen Rflows down the tailings cone lS to the tailings outlet I. The outletsr', g and I are connected to their respective cones by a series ofconduits or pipes s passing each within the neXt, either concentricallyas shown, or nested eccentrically so as to give the greatest externalpassageway at the lower side if desired. In this manner three mechanicalgradings are edected in addition tothe current gradings.

To agitate the mechanical screens myy invention provides a swingingknocker T which preferably revolves with the distributer vand strikes aprojection t on the screen when the latter is depressed, these partsbeing normally out of coincidence, but being brought into the same pathby the depres-v sion of the screens either by reason .of the weight ofmaterial on it if it becomes ologged,'or by means of the handle 1c whendesired. To permit this depression. the screens are yieldingly mountedby means of their cylindrical necks l in the upper ends of theirrespective pipes s. Thus they will vautomatically cause themselves todepress the-springs and to be 'agitated when overloaded, and restorethemselves when :tree from undue weight.

This invention provldes an additional ex-A haust and a supplementalblast, which may be used in conjunction withyor in substitu` tion forthe internal blower. I preferl to provide a secondary external returnpassage U', communicating with the chamber G at the outlet of thepassage U, and extending upwardly and dischargin into a chamber u fromwhich a tangentia exhaust 1V leads to and discharges tangentially into asectrifugal drum o from which a suction pipe.

W leads to a secondary or outer blower X. The pipe W draws downward'from an inverted cup or dust apron w inthe drum lv. An annular outletfr withdraws. dust settling in this drum.

. The blower X exhausts through the pipe Y into a drum Z located withinthe chainber E,'having a tubular 'central blast outlet y therein and aninternal'equalizing Ycone anism D or the dampers in the chamber E orthose in the passage H. C in Fig. 1 is such a regulator.

In operationthegmaterial entering the feed pipe will-y be controlled byits-'adjustment, the speeds and currents will be,v regulated to give-the desired results andthe various products :will be separately,withdrawn. according to classification., One or all of the methods ofclassification will -be used according to particular requirements.

When a single classilication with an outside blower vwilll suce themodication shown in lligl 2 may be used, in whichvthe tailings cone S isextendedinto and constiytutes a continuation of the blast pipe Y beyondvwhich its `outlet I discharges, and the passage II surrounds the cone Sand its outlet and constitutes a part of .the suction pipe W, openinginto the centrifugal drum fu which in this. instance surrounds vbothpipes. In this view the improved scalperN is shown above the hopper C.'This scalper consists of parallel wires -alternately of`greaterlongitudinal extension at their lower ends which are bent atright angles and eX- tended a suicient distance before meeting theadjacent part of thechute which supports them, thus leaving anoverhanging part of sutlicient depth to clear any nail or other largepiece which hangs through the scalper and eXtra room at its extremityfor its escape. f

In the modication shown in Fig. 3 the same arrangement forl outsideblower as referred to in Fig. 2 is utilized in conjunction with anintermediate settling chamber X, the outlet of which surrounds thepassage `lol and is surrounded by the outlet j of the chamber G.

When desired the feeder may bean inwhich may consist of a ring le and aplurality ofannular'reverse oblique plates, Q and It, which may bestationary, relatively adjustable, and approximately cylindrical intheir relation, so that the blower F may extend past each without thenecessityv of darin it, for example, as shown in Fig. 4. In this way thebearings"` may be brought farther within. the blower, the cone of thedistributer being relied on to litt the feed to the top of the annulardistributers, and the fan being carried from the top of and driven bythe cone.

A selector A, as 'the spaced plates r between' the rings s and blades p,carried byor revolving with the blower, 'may be used in the currentvtogive additional centrifugal action to the coarser pieces it carries andto throw these outwardly through the descending currents. An extractorB, shown as a series of incline rings, may surllO round the chamber Tfor catching the' coarser pieces, and a collecting chamber C may receivethese and discharge them into an outer casing D.

A blower E, consisting of blades t and ring u, carried and driven by theblower can be placed in the chamber Gr, and carryv a cleaner J forthrowing any oating particles through the extractor G, into the chamberH having an outlet I.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular details of construction,I arrangement and combination setforth, as it can be employed in whole or in part according to anymodifications.

For the purpose of more completely disclosing the scope andpracticability of the features incident to this invention which I preferto claim in this application many features of improvement in separatorsand similar devices are herein shown and set forth but not specificallyclaimed in this application, being -the subject matter of claims in myapplications Serial Nos. 858,797. filed August 2T, 191i; 859,004-,filedAugust 28, 1914i, and 859,145, liled August 29. 191i.

What I claim is:

1. In separators and similar devices the combination with a casing,means for feeding material thereto, and means for creating a currenttmzrein through such material, of means subdividing such material in itsdistribution within such casing, and surrounding means subdividing suchcurrent between the subdivisions of such distribution into super-posedapproximately horizontally outwardly flowing strata.

2. In separators and similar devices, the combination with a pluralityofdistributers for material to be separated, of isolated sur-` roundingmeans for causing a current to traverse such material-between eachdistributer independently of the others and approximately horizontallyoutwardly therefrom.

3. In separators and similar devices, the combination with a pluralityof distributers for material to be separated, of isolated means forcreating a current through such material opposite each distributerindependently of any current opposite other distributers.

a. In separators and similar devices, the combination with a pluralityof distributers for material to be separated, of an independent blowersurrounding each distributer.

5. In separators and similar devices, the combination with a pluralityof distributers for material to be separated, of a suction blowersurrounding each distributer.

6. ln separators and similar devices, the combination with a pluralityof distributers for material to be separated, and blowers surroundingthem, of isolated exhaust chambers for each distributer and a commonexhaust passage for said blowers.

7 In separators and similar devices, the combination with a plurality ofdistributers for material to be separated, and a blower surrounding saiddistributers, of an annular exhaust passage surrounding saiddistributcrs, a reverse return passage inwardly of said exhaust passage,and a settling chamber communicating the said passages.

S. In separators and similar devices, a revolving distributer and arevolving blower surrounding it, in combination with means fordifferentially driving said parts, and means for adjusting theirrelative speeds.

9. In separatorsand similar devices, a casing, means for distributingmaterial therein, means for causing a current to traverse thedistributed material, a rotary blower within said casing below andsurrounding Vsaid distributer for causing an outward current within theapron of distributed material. and means for returning such current tosuch blower.

10. In separators and similar devices, a casing, means for distributingmaterial therein, means for causing a current to traverse such materialand a damper beneath and inwardly of said distributer for regulatingsuch current inwardly of the apron of distributed material.

11. In combination, means causing a current to traverse material, aconical screen receiving such materiahmeans for moving said screenaxially.

12. In separators and the like, a casing, means for distributingmaterial therein, and means for causing a current to How outwardlythrough said material, in combination with an annular centrifugalselector surrounding said distributing means.

13. In separators and the like, a casing. means for distributingmaterial therein, a settling chamber, and passages leading to and fromthe latter, in combination with an annularI extractor surrounding thepassage leading from said chamber.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

esonera notar naasten.

lWitnesses FRED lvVl-irre, THOMAS l?. 'warmen lem

